Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar Advises Farmers to Grow Millets To Help Address Malnutrition

On Thursday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar requested small and marginal farmers to grow more millets, which can help address malnutrition in India and the world. He said, millets like ragi and jowar are grown with less water but have high nutrition. However, these miracle cereals were kept out thinking it was poor man's food.

In his inaugural address at the annual 'Krishi Vigyan Mela' at the Pusa campus in the national capital, Tomar said millets are grown by small and marginal farmers and not big farmers.

Amid the problem of malnutrition and challenges of climate change, India took the lead and the current year is being celebrated as the international year of millets across the world, he added.

India is a major millet-producing nation. If huge demand is created for millets and millets-based products, the income of small and marginal farmers can be enhanced, he said and added the government is making efforts to create a market for millets and encourage value-addition.

To brand them beyond 'poor man's food', the government took a cautious decision of naming eight types of millets as "Sree Anna", indicative of having better nutrition than wheat and rice, he said.

For the export of Indian millets, the minister said the government plans to facilitate the participation of exporters, farmers, and traders in 16 International Trade Expos and Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs).

Tomar also said that climate change and the growing population is a challenge for all countries.

Indian scientists have developed climate-resilient seed varieties. Still, climate change impact would be there and farmers need to continue working, accepting these challenges to ensure food security, he added.

In the 'Krishi Vigyan Mela', more than 200 stalls have been set up this year.

-With PTI Inputs

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